reactance

[ ree-ak-tuhns ]

noun

1. Electricity. the opposition of inductance and capacitance to alternating current, expressed in ohms: equal to the product of the sine of the angular phase difference between current and voltage and the ratio of the effective voltage to the effective current. : X Compare capacitive reactance, inductive reactance.
2. Acoustics. acoustic reactance.

reactance

/ rɪˈæktəns /

noun

1. See resistance
   the opposition to the flow of alternating current by the capacitance or inductance of an electrical circuit; the imaginary part of the impedance Z , Z = R + i X , where R is the resistance, i = √–1, and X is the reactance. It is expressed in ohms Compare resistance
2. the opposition to the flow of an acoustic or mechanical vibration, usually due to inertia or stiffness. It is the magnitude of the imaginary part of the acoustic or mechanical impedance

Word History and Origins

Origin of reactance¹

First recorded in 1890–95; react + -ance

Example Sentences

Such a response, known in psychology as reactance, generally is short-lived.

From The Daily Beast

Find the reactance of a choke coil having a resistance of 10 ohms, when its impedance is 50 ohms.

From Project Gutenberg

The essential parts of a Tungar Rectifier are: A bulb, transformer, reactance, and the enclosing case and equipment.

From Project Gutenberg

The light obtainable through a reactance is not of the best quality and reactances are not much used.

From Project Gutenberg

If a reactance is used in place of a rheostat in an alternating-current circuit, the loss of energy is greatly reduced.

From Project Gutenberg

The combined effect of resistance and reactance is called impedance.

From Project Gutenberg